Blog Post Archive

Discover 8 Strategies High-Achievers Use to Reach their Goals. I’ve studied high achievers for decades. They all have different traits and habits that make them unique, but what I find fascinating are all the commonalities. What if having...Show More Summary

How Collective Feedback Creates Clarity and Innovation. This week my team met for strategic planning. We set aside several days so the leadership team could review our values, goals, and budget. We’re just finishing up today, actually. But Day 1 was dedicated not just to leaders, but to the full team. Why? I prioritize my team. Customers are important for a business. […]

Because it Takes More than Skill to Beat the Odds. I’m not much of a baseball fan. I played in high school, but I lost interest after breaking my elbow. So while most of my friends were deep into game seven of the World Series, I went to bed. Then they woke me up. Several of us were staying in a vacation home for a […]

The One Thing You Must Do to Preserve Your Innovation Mojo. I used to watch Apple’s product events with eager anticipation. But when I watched the most recent, I was disappointed. I’m a serious Machead. But if I’m honest, I think they’re losing their mojo. Show More Summary

How to Avoid Spraying Talent Repellant on Everyone You Meet. Ever wonder why some people are likable and others aren’t? Without a high likability quotient, it’s tough to succeed in almost any area of life—especially as a leader or entrepreneur. If you want to win with people, they not only have to know you; they also have to trust you. Likability is the bridge between […]

In this episode, Michele Cushatt and I discuss the topic of accountability in leadership. Most leaders avoid it. Real leaders embrace it. The reason is that taking responsibility for your attitudes, actions, and overall results is tremendously liberating. Show More Summary

It All Comes Down to the Right Kind of Connection. Recently, I was talking to the leader of a nonprofit organization who was complaining that volunteerism was at an all time low. “Even when people volunteer, most of them don’t show up or follow through,” he said. “They just don’t seem to be engaged.” This is a common problem in the for-profit world as well. […]

In this episode, Michele Cushatt and I discuss the importance of character and the forces that shape it. Charisma may be useful in attracting a following, but it is largely useless when it comes to achieving a long-term, positive impact on the people and organizations we lead. For this, we need character. Effective leadership is […]

Use this Proven 5-Step Process and Get Back on Track. Setbacks are inevitable. They make us stronger and develop our character. But only if we maintain our perspective and use them to grow. Here's how.

The Most Powerful Tool I’ve Found for Personal Development. Leading others starts with leading ourselves. That means leaders must be be committed to personal development if we’re going to have long-term success. But some paths to personal development are more direct than others. Show More Summary

Defeating Limiting Beliefs in the 3 Major Areas of Life. In this episode, Stu McLaren (who filled in for my regular cohost Michele Cushatt) and I discussed how to defeat the beliefs that are holding you back. Most of the things that hold us back are not external. They’re inside our heads and hearts, the limiting beliefs that keep us from making meaningful progress toward […]

How to Use Setbacks as Fuel for Future Success. Failure can be a powerful teacher—if you process it carefully and wring all the juice out of it. Here are five steps for turning failure to your advantage.

5 Steps to Boosting Your Influence and Authority. During a recent Launch Conference, my friend Ken Davis joked from the stage, “All you have to do to become an expert is read five books on the same subject.” Everyone laughed. But in our get-smart-quick culture, it sometimes seems that way, doesn’t it? Click here for more. Show More Summary

4 Heart-Defending Disciplines. In this episode, Stu McLaren (who filled in for my regular cohost Michele Cushatt) and I discussed the most important asset for leaders and how to safeguard it. It affects our perspective and purpose. It impacts how we interact with our teams, potential clients, and customers. What is this critical leadership asset? It’s our heart. […]

4 Steps to Win with Customers, Employees, Even Your Spouse. Trust is to an organization what oil is to a car engine. It keeps the moving parts from seizing and stopping forward motion. But trust is not something you can take for granted. It takes months—sometimes years—to build. Unfortunately, you can lose it overnight.

And Why the Future Will Be Far Better Than We’re Told. Along with more than 70 million of my fellow Americans, I watched the presidential debate Monday night. It’s hard to expect more from the context, but it was very negative. It’s one of the reasons I almost never watch television news. You can make a good argument for viewing the debates. This is a historic […]